Stew Mel vs Kirkcaldy, 30/3/02

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Kirkcaldy in the semi-final of the BT Cellnet Shield on Saturday at Inverleith (kick off 3 pm) is:

The team shows three changes from last Saturday, with Mark Paton replacing the injured Willie Laidlaw in the second row and Stewart Clark starting his first game for the 1st XV in the back row. Richard Munro is unavailable this weekend.

Spike was originally picked at 14 for the game, but has had to drop out due to a knee injury he's been unable to shake off. Muz takes his place, with Chris Bissett coming onto the bench.

Other than that, the team is essentially the one that has contributed to one of the most successful seasons down at Inverleith in many years. The team are acutely aware of the sort of performance that is required against a Premier 1 team, and they are up for the challenge. There are a few nervous lads, but the experienced players, especially Stewart Bennet (who is trying to get into his 4th Finals day), are exerting a calming influence.

A massive opportunity to get something out the season exists, and we hope to be going to Murrayfield on April 20th. As the biggest game in Edinburgh on Saturday, please come down and support your club. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Riggers

Match Report

(To follow)

Riggers' Review

Before I start on my review of the weekend's semifinal action at Inverleith, can I just take the opportunity to congratulate H/A and Biggar on their promotion to Premier 2. As people say, league tables don't lie, and a quick look at our losses column in the league table, and the number 6 appearing in it, indicates to me that, at this stage, we are not good enough to go up.

It is, however, year one of a five year plan, and, when compared to where we stood a year ago, we have made significant improvements. Whilst Allan Munro, our Chief Executive, has had a large part to play in this improvement, a larger part, for me, has come from the improvement in the players, both in terms of ability and attitude. Of course, a number of new players arrived at the club, but some of the guys who had been here for a couple of seasons really took on board the new ideas being put to them and, today, stand as better players.

Season 2000/2001 saw us train at the level of the weakest link, whereas Season 2001/2002 saw the weakest links have to improve to keep up, and, as a whole, they responded to this. That is, perhaps, the greatest achievement this season. Unfortunately, the promotion dream died on Saturday, and, for those of you wondering, yes, I did belt out a few songs when the Biggar v H/A result came through!

So, onto the Kirkcaldy game. We knew beforehand that to compete was going to take a massive effort from the pack, as they were playing against one of the strongest packs in Premier 1. Those that had played at that level before passed on their thoughts as to what it was going to take to reach the level required, and I think, afterwards, those who had doubted that this was going to be the most physical game of their lives knew that they had been told the truth. The only criticism that we could have had in the opening exchanges was that maybe we slipped off a few tackles, but the back up defence was outstanding. I can still remember a number of occasions when a Kirkcaldy forward was picked up and driven back by one of our team.

It was that type of game and that level of commitment that was asked for. We started off under pressure, but soon found our feet and, if only we could have finished one of the great try scoring opportunities we had created in the first half, then things might have been different. One of the breaks came from our own 22, where Struan made the initial break, then passed onto Fraser Deeming before Reedy took it on. With Mike Elliott, Struan and Muz in support, a try looked certain, but, unfortunately, the final pass spilled. We were also held up over the line after another series of drives by the pack. It was great stuff to watch and made you be proud to be part of it.

Unfortunately, we conceded a couple of soft scores from scrums either side of half-time, which moved the game just out of our reach. We competed well throughout, and Reedy and Si Rowan scored to put a fairer reflection on the scoreboard. Si Rowan, despite giving away probably 4 stone in the scrums to his opposite man, competed throughout the afternoon, and it was great that he scored the final try in what has been a season of considerable improvement for our young loosehead. Si could be heard on Sunday summing up his contributions to our final two games as 'two games, two rucks, two tries', but he did far more than that.

Looking back, the biggest difference between the two sides was that Kirkcaldy were clinical. When their opportunities to score came, they scored. When ours came, we didn't. That, I think, was the biggest difference between the two sides. It was good to hear from the Kirkcaldy team afterwards that they were impressed with our performance. At the end of the day, it is only words, but, when coming from a team that are playing two divisions above you, it is pleasing to hear.

The boys were a bit down afterwards in the changing room, but this soon changed. They have every reason to be proud of what they have achieved this season. I know I am. A few beers in the changing room, and then a few more in the committee room, lightened the mood. The Club Dinner on Sunday night was also a time for reflection on what might have been, but, also, a time to celebrate the 2nd XV's achievements this season. There is a buzz around the club that hasn't been there for a few years, and I think everyone who was at the Dinner enjoyed themselves. It makes a great difference to a Club when the teams are winning, and that is the challenge again for next season. It won't be long in coming round again.

Riggers

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